Academy Sports + Outdoors traces its origins to 1938, when Max Gochman opened Academy Tire Shop in San Antonio, Texas. The tire business served local customers for nearly three decades before Max's son Arthur began transforming the concept in the 1960s, gradually adding sporting goods to meet customer demand.

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From tire shop to firearms powerhouse: Academy's integration of firearms retail in the 1970s coincided with growing hunting culture across the American South. The combination of high-volume pricing and one-stop shopping created a model that now spans 260+ stores across 16 states.
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Key milestones:

• 1938 — Founded as Academy Tire Shop in San Antonio, TX
• 1970s — Added firearms department; pivoted to sporting goods focus
• 1980s-90s — Aggressive geographic expansion across Texas and the South
• 2011-2020 — Owned by KKR private equity; standardized operations across all locations
• 2020 — IPO; went public with 260+ stores in 16 states

Academy's growth strategy focuses on Southern and Southwestern markets — regions with strong hunting traditions and favorable attitudes toward firearms ownership.

Shopping Guide

Academy operates on a high-volume, competitive-pricing model that offers significant savings over specialty retailers, but the experience differs from a dedicated gun shop.

What Academy does well:

• Ammunition pricing — Consistently 10-20% below smaller retailers on popular calibers (9mm, .223, 12-gauge)
• Online ordering — Buy firearms online for in-store pickup; real-time inventory
• One-stop shopping — Firearms, ammo, hunting gear, camping, fishing, and apparel under one roof
• Selection breadth — Mainstream manufacturers well-represented (Glock, S&W, Ruger, Remington, Mossberg)

What to expect:

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Pro tip: Academy's ammunition deals are the main draw for most firearms customers. Check the weekly ad — they regularly run loss-leader pricing on popular calibers that undercuts even online retailers after shipping.
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Payment: Cash, credit, and debit accepted. No layaway on firearms — full payment at purchase. Special orders available at some locations but inconsistent.

Firearms Department

Academy's firearms department (called the "gun bar" internally) focuses on mainstream hunting, personal protection, and recreational shooting — not tactical or specialized firearms.

Handgun inventory:

Long gun inventory:

Ammunition is Academy's strongest firearms category:

• Handgun: 9mm, .40 S&W, .45 ACP, .38 Special — often below online prices
• Rifle: .223/5.56, .308, .30-06, .270, .243 — bulk packs available
• Shotgun: Target loads, buckshot, slugs, waterfowl steel shot
• Rimfire: .22 LR in bulk bricks — frequently the best deal in town

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Background check reality: Academy follows federal NICS requirements. Most transactions complete in 30-45 minutes, but delays happen. Busy weekends, holidays, and election seasons can push wait times past 2 hours. Military personnel stationed outside their home state should bring extra documentation.
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Accessories cover basics (holsters, cleaning kits, basic optics) but lack the depth of specialized retailers. For specific or advanced accessories, plan to shop elsewhere.

Store Locations

Academy operates 260+ stores across 16 states, heavily concentrated in the South and Southwest:

Store format: 60,000-80,000 sq ft big-box stores, typically in strip centers or standalone buildings along major highways. Firearms department is usually in the back with dedicated counter and secure display cases.

Regional customization matters:

• Texas stores stock gear for deer, hogs, waterfowl, and dove
• Florida locations emphasize freshwater/saltwater fishing alongside hunting
• Gulf Coast stores carry duck hunting-specific inventory
• All locations adjust seasonal inventory for local hunting calendars

References

• Academy Sports + Outdoors official site: academy.com
• Company SEC filings (2020 IPO documentation)
• Consumer reviews: Trustpilot, Yelp, Reddit r/guns

Read the original article in The Handbook | By Boise Gun Club Editorial Team

Join the Discussion

Anyone here regularly shop at Academy for ammo or firearms, and if so, how do their prices and selection stack up against your local shops or online options?